Mild Cognitive Impairment Prevalence and Associated Risk Factor Frequency Among Mexican-origin Adults in Southern Arizona

Background Limited research exists among Mexican-origin populations related to Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease risk factors in community-based settings. Objective This study aims to characterize the prevalence of MCI using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in Spanish (MoCA-S) among Mexican-origin adults in Southern Arizona while identifying risk factors associated with MCI in this population. Methods A community-based sample of 194 Mexican-origin adults (women = 134; men = 56; mean age = 51.64 ± 12.3 years) in Southern Arizona participated in the study. The MoCA-S was administered and interpreted based on established cutoffs for cognitive function. A generalized linear model was fitted to explore the predictors of MCI while adjusting for sociodemographic, cardiometabolic, and mental health characteristics. Results The mean MoCA-S score was 21.6 ± 3.9, with 30 participants (15.46%) identified with mild to severe cognitive impairment. The adjusted model indicated that participants with a college degree or greater had higher MoCA-S scores compared to those with less than a 6th -grade level education (β = 3.67, 95% CI = 1.61, 5.72). No significant differences in MoCA-S scores were observed for age, sex, years in the U. S., body mass index, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease status, blood pressure, diabetes status, perceived stress, and smoking status (p > 0.05). Conclusion This study highlights the unique cognitive health challenges and opportunities within Mexican-origin communities in Southern Arizona. Addressing key factors, such as improving educational strategies while leveraging culturally sensitive screening tools, can support public health efforts to mitigate the burden of MCI in this high-risk population.